I Tried Every Skewer at Kushikatsu Dengana! Tasting & Ranking Edition
Hello! I'm Hachi, a writer for the note editorial department 🐝
I tried every skewer at "Kushikatsu Dengana"! We are finally moving into the second half!
If you'd like to see the first part, please check out
"I Tried Every Skewer at Kushikatsu Dengana! Survey & Visit Edition"
!!
*Here is the URL for the first part!
https://note.com/fourseeds1980/n/n266d5f09fd29?sub_rt=share_sb
From here on, I'm going to actually try eating all the kushikatsu at "Kushikatsu Dengana," and I'll also becreating a personal ranking of what I found delicious✨
Since it's just my "personal" ranking, I would appreciate it if you could overlook the fact that it includes my own preferences.
I would be very happy if reading this article makes you think even a little bit, "I didn't know there was a skewer like that!" "I've never eaten this, but it looks delicious, maybe I'll try it!" or "Kushikatsu Dengana sounds like a wonderful place, I want to go!" ^^
Time to eat all the skewers!!
As I wrote in the first part, just in case you forgot, I will explain the types of kushikatsu and the order in which I'll eat them once more!
If I order them all at once, the kushikatsu will get cold, soI will order them in the order of the yellow arrows in the photo!
*9 types of meat -> 6 types of seafood -> 10 types of vegetables -> 5 other types
I'm planning to eat a lot, so I came with an empty stomach and am fully prepared!
Since I'm eating kushikatsu...!
With that in mind, I also orderedcabbage and beer!
They are indispensable for eating kushikatsu 😊
Now that I'm all set,
let's start with the meat category!
Personal Ranking: Meat Category
1st Place: Menchi-katsu🥇
They've taken the one they serve at lunch and made it into a kushikatsu size, and since it's a black pork menchi-katsu, I have high expectations that it will be super juicy and delicious!!
When I tried it right away, it was packed with the flavor of the meat!The sensation of it being crispy on the outside and juicy with meat juices on the insidewas so delicious that it made me want to wash it down with beer immediately 🍻
I had never eaten minced meat cutlets or chicken cutlets as kushikatsu before, so the deliciousness was a shock.
2nd Place: Toro-Buta (Melting Pork)🥈
Before eating, Mr. Kaneniwa asked me a question.
“When you hear 'Toro-Buta,' you wonder what it is, right? It is pork, but what do you think it is??”
Oh my, what could it be...?
Everyone, what do you think it is??
The answer ischashu pork!
It is an ingredient familiar to everyone, and essential for the Iekei ramen I love so much.👀
I can't imagine that chashu being wrapped in batter and served to me.^^
When I tried it,it melted in my mouth with such tenderness!
It is juicy, tender, and easy to eat, so I think it is a dish that people of all ages can enjoy!
3rd Place: Tulip (Chicken Wing)🥉
Before eating the tulip, I was embarrassed to think, 'It's probably like a chicken wing tip...' However, Mr. Kaneniwa taught me that it is the 'middle wing, not the wing tip,' and since it is a part I rarely eat, I ate it with excitement.
He also told me, 'The seasoning of the tulip varies depending on the kushikatsu restaurant—ours has a classic ginger-based seasoning. Some kushikatsu restaurants in Osaka even have several types of tulips!'
They also have curry flavor, so you can look forward to seeing what kind of base flavor tulip you can eat at the kushikatsu restaurant you visit!
As for the taste, the moment I bit into it, the meat juices overflowed, and it was a hearty dish with a piping hot inside and a batter-wrapped outside.😋
The meat items were all juicy and highly satisfying! They were all products that go well with alcohol, and the deliciousness oozed out along with the meat juices.🤤
Here,Mr. Kaneniwa told me about a special drink that goes well with meat-based skewers!
It is the 'Wasabi Sour'‼️
I didn't know the product itself, so while I thought it would be a favorite drink for a wasabi lover like me, I was also worried that it might be too spicy...
It is so rare thatit is no exaggeration to say that only Dengana carries it, and not only regular customers, but recently young customers have been drinking it too!
Well then, let's dig in!!☺️
The moment I took a sip,I felt a refreshing sensation and a tingling kick in my mouth, making it the perfect drink for kushikatsu!
It is definitely recommended for wasabi lovers, but I felt that even those who aren't huge fans of wasabi could drink it quite easily!
Next, I would like to move on to theSeafood Category!
Personal Ranking: Seafood Category
1st Place: Scallop🥇
The scallop is a dish that Mr. Kaneniwa is proud of!
He says that by sealing in the flavor of the scallop with yam batter, delicious juices overflow like a soup dumpling when you take a bite! I'm really looking forward to this!!
When I actually tried it, it was exactly as described!!
Delicious juices overflowed! 🍽 It is a dish that truly exceeds expectations!
2nd Place: Kiss (Japanese Whiting)🥈
Actually, I had never eaten kiss before, so I started by wondering, "What does kiss taste like?" I had heard of kiss tempura, but I had never ordered it...
The kiss skewer seems to be a popular item among people in their 40s and 50s who enjoy drinking, and when I took a bite, the meat was so fluffy! The kiss skewer, which has a completely different texture from tempura,was a highly satisfying dish with an irresistible contrast between the crispy exterior and the tender fish inside!
3rd Place: Shrimp🥉
Third place goes to everyone's favorite, the shrimp skewer! The plump texture the moment you eat it is irresistible, and since the shrimp meat is packed tight and the saltiness is just right, every bite filled my mouth witha rich, oceanic aroma!
The seafood category is lighter and easier to eat than the meat, but each item has a distinct texture, making it fun to eat^^
From here on, it's a special edition for seafood skewers‼️
Once I finished the seafood skewers, Mr. Kaneniwa secretly told me, "Actually, there is a special menu that isn't listed on the menu board!" I just had to order it!!
Actually, there are many other delicious-looking kushikatsu items, including limited-time skewers, not just the ones listed on the menu!
Among them, the one that shone the brightest was the "Overflowing Salmon Roe Skewer"!
Since I still had room to eat, I ordered it right away!
And here is the "Overflowing Salmon Roe Skewer" that arrived!!
A dish that whets your appetite the moment you see it!
The seafood skewer of scallop, shrimp, and silver salmon, topped with overflowing salmon roe and shiso leaves, is irresistible.
First, I had the scallop, my personal number one in the seafood category,
along with the salmon roe and shiso leaf!
Needless to say,the umami of the scallop combined with the popping, rich salmon roeand therefreshing aroma of shiso leaf that spreads the moment you put it in your mouthmade it overwhelmingly easier to eat than just the scallop alone!
I was able to taste this seafood harmony🎶 in one bite, and my mouth was filled with happiness. That's the beauty of skewers, isn't it?^^
Next, I ate the shrimp!
The plump shrimp and the popping salmon roe are a delight just from their textures!🦐
The sweetness of the shrimp and the sweetness of the salmon roe are exquisite—the different types of sweetness combine, and with the accent of the shiso leaf added in, I was able to enjoy many flavors at once, and it was extremely delicious^^
Finally, thelong-awaited silver salmon⸜🐟⸝
Since this was the only item not on the menu as a single order, I was excited and wondering what it would taste like^^
When I ate it, the silver salmon was fluffy and tender, the meat fell apart in my mouth, andan extract that locks in the rich flavor of the fishoverflowed from within.
A dish packed with umami that is just too luxurious! I really want everyone to try it too^^
Next, I'd like to move on to the vegetable category!
Personal Ranking: Vegetable Category
1st Place: Eggplant🥇
I was told to eat it while it's hot, so I took a bite first!
The moment I ate it, I felt it was super juicy! It retained its moisture and was thick🍆. They actually cut it thick, so it was like a piece of tender meat.
I'm not really a fan of eggplant myself, but I honestly felt, 'Is eggplant really this delicious!!'so I chose it for first place this time.
2nd Place: Onion🥈
The secret to the cooking is to properly wrap both sides in batter and fry them, which seals in the flavor and steams it inside! says Mr. Kaneniwa.
When I actually ate it, the perfect crispness and the sweetness of the onion overflowed, and it felt like all the best qualities of the onion were brought out.🧅
Seeing how they think every day about how to make things even more delicious is one of the reasons why "Kushikatsu Dengana" is loved by so many people, and I felt that they really want to share this experience with as many people as possible.
3rd Place: Mini Tomato🥉
When I first saw the item name "mini tomato," I wondered, "What is a deep-fried mini tomato??" When I actually saw it, there were two red mini tomatoes on a skewer, and they looked kind of cute! I was excited to see what they tasted like!!
However, be careful before you eat!!Freshly fried mini tomatoes are very hot, so there is a risk of burning your mouth if you eat them in one bite!
I blew on it a little to cool it down, and then took a bite!
The moment I bit into it, the sweetness of the mini tomato spread through my mouth along with the warm tomato juice, making it a soft and easy-to-eat item!
It's said to be very popular with women, and with its cute appearance and being wrapped in sweetness and softness, I definitely want everyone to try it at least once!
You don't see this much at other kushikatsu restaurants, so it's a unique item only at "Kushikatsu Dengana"!!
Personally, my vegetable choices were usually fixed, so it was very refreshing to try things I had never eaten before.✨
I felt that even "eggplant and shiitake mushrooms," which I don't usually prefer to eat, are very delicious when eaten as "kushikatsu."
I really want you to try items you haven't eaten much of before.
Finally, here is the ranking for the other categories!!
Personal Ranking: Other Categories
1st Place: Quail Egg🥇
This is heavily influenced by the fact that I personally love eggs, but among the items I always order, the quail eggs at "Kushikatsu Dengana" were the most delicious! When eaten without sauce, you can taste the original flavor of the egg even more, and it goes perfectly with the sauce, making it an undisputed first place.🥚
2nd Place: Mochi Cheese🥈
The idea of having both mochi and cheese in one sounded delicious, but it exceeded my expectations—mochi and cheese are truly a perfect match!
Within the crispness, there is a softness to both, and it matches the batter so well that I could keep eating it.😋
3rd Place: Aged Bacon Cream Croquette🥉
Crispy, creamy, and juicy bacon!!
Unlike a croquette served on a plate, eating it on a skewer allows the "batter, sauce, and bacon" to mix in your mouth in the perfect ratio.
I was captivated by the gap between the unusual way of eating it and the deliciousness that exceeded my imagination.🥓
*This item is no longer available. We appreciate your understanding.
After finishing all the skewers
I visited Kushikatsu Dengana for the first time, and every single skewer was so delicious and satisfying that I was overflowing with joy—it was so good that I couldn't even make a ranking!!
With so many varieties available, it was a wonderful space packed with a customer-first mindset, from the dedication to the batter that brings out the maximum flavor to the stylish shop decor, and the many special menu items you can only eat at Dengana.
There were so many exciting, unique dishes I had never seen before, and I truly felt that I want to go to Kushikatsu Dengana again and try these next time!
I would be very happy if this article conveys even a little of the charm of the restaurant and encourages you to visit it yourself.
Well then, look forward to the next article!!